Virginia is celebrating Business Appreciation Month in Philadelphia this week by showcasing local breweries during BrewExpo America, the country’s largest craft brewery industry gathering.

America’s beer-brewing tradition began more than 400 years ago in historic Jamestown. Today, more than 130 licensed breweries call Virginia home and have an economic impact of $1 billion. The Commonwealth’s craft brewing industry began to flourish in 2012 when a new state law allowed breweries to sell their beer for on-premises consumption. In 2015, Virginia craft brewers produced 274,111 barrels of beer – 346% more than in 2011.

Across the Commonwealth, communities are engaged in helping the craft beer industry thrive. Virginia Tech hosts the largest, and one of few remaining, barley breeding programs in the eastern U.S. The university is also home to a state-of-the-art, new brewhouse and malting system to support industry research in fermentation and brewing.

The first commercial-scale hops drying and pelletizing facility in the Mid-Atlantic was created by Lucketts Mill & HopWorks at Black Hops Farm in Loudoun County. Michigan-based Pilot Malt House announced the opening of its second artisan craft malting operation in Loudoun County in 2015 at Black Hops Farm. The project is a collaboration between the Commonwealth, Loudoun County and Pilot Malt House and includes funding from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.

Richmond’s Hardywood has been a key player in Virginia’s thriving craft beer industry. Founded by lifelong friends, Hardywood has been brewing beer since 2011. The brewery’s beers have earned international praise with medals at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival in addition to receiving a rare 100 rating by BeerAdvocate Magazine. Hardywood was rated Virginia's Top Brewery by RateBeer.com users and Thrillist.com recognized it as Virginia’s Best Brewery. The Greater Richmond Chamber Business Council awarded Hardywood the Business of the Year Award in 2013.

In Alexandria, Port City Brewing Company opened its brewery in January 2011 to create more options for quality, locally produced craft beer to Northern Virginia. Port City Brewing Company was named Small Brewing Company of the Year at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, and has received numerous awards and recognition since 2011.

Virginia is proud to showcase its craft beer assets and local breweries at BrewExpo America. Governor Terry McAuliffe hosted a Virginia craft beer reception along with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia’s craft brewing community and our partners.

As we celebrate Virginia Business Appreciation Month, the craft beer industry serves as a great example of the passion and dedication of Virginia entrepreneurs. To learn why the Commonwealth is a great location to grow a business, click here.

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The Roanoke Valley Region has recently become a magnet for the automotive industry.

Italy-based ELDOR Corporation, a leading automotive supplier of ignition coils and systems, engine and electronic control units and full systems for hybrids, is the latest company to establish an operation in Botetourt County. A major deciding factor for the company was the region’s skilled workforce.

Thanks to Virginia Western Community College’s (VWCC) advanced technology education programs, there is a strong pipeline of skilled workers to serve the area’s growing automotive industry. VWCC offers an Associate degree in Applied Science with a focus on Mechatronic Systems Engineering Technology—a cross-discipline that combines mechanical, electrical and computer engineering to meet high performance manufacturing industry standards. The community college also offers a Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program to prepare students to work in the ever-growing complex technology industry.

Students have access to the Fab Lab at VWCC, giving them digital fabrication resources as a platform for their own innovation and inventions. Automated Manufacturing instructor Daniel Horine showcased VWCC’s impressive equipment and training capabilities following the Governor’s ELDOR announcement last month. Attendees, including ELDOR’s executive team, got a personal tour of the community college’s Fab Lab.

The Mechatronics program at VWCC is a great testament to how higher education works to provide students with industry specific skills and create a steady workforce pipeline for area employers. To learn more about Virginia’s 23 community colleges, located on 40 campuses around the state, click here.

Governor McAuliffe Signs Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea’s Jeollanam-do Provincial Government to strengthen economic and cultural ties.

VEDP joined Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore at the signing ceremony, and look forward to enhancing economic activity.

The Commonwealth and Jeollanam-do Province share a common desire to exchange information to enhance mutually beneficial economic and cultural activity, including research and development, governmental collaboration, and other related activity pertaining to growth industries, including information and communication technology, agriculture, logistics, energy, and other areas within the global market.

Over the past four decades, the Republic of Korea has demonstrated incredible economic growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy. Today, the Republic of Korea is the world's 12th largest economy, and ranks 12th among Virginia export destinations. Some of the top opportunities for U.S. exporters in South Korea include:

Aerospace Industry

Defense Industry Equipment

Cosmetics

Energy: New and Renewable

Medical Equipment

Laboratory Scientific Instruments

Pollution Control Equipment

Education Services

This agreement solidifies the importance of leveraging partnerships in order to build a new Virginia economy. To learn more about Virginia’s global focus, click here.

This week, VEDP sponsored and attended the Plastics News Executive Forum in Naples, Florida. We had the opportunity to talk with many of the world’s top plastics processors and share the benefits of doing business in Virginia.

Virginia’s strategic mid-Atlantic location and superior transportation network provide access to 43% of the U.S. population within a one-day (10 hour) drive. These assets combined with our competitive operating costs make an ideal location for plastics companies.

The Port of Virginia is a leading gateway to the global market, offering direct connection to over 100 foreign ports. The Port offers the single best infrastructure on the East Coast with no overhead obstructions, on-dock rail service, easy access to ocean lanes, and is the only East Coast port with Congressional authorization to dredge to 55 feet.

Virginia is home to over 200 plastics companies that employ more than 20,300 Virginians. A few companies who call Virginia home include Rubbermaid, TREX, General Packaging, Klockner Pentaplast, Hanwha Azdel and Variform.

Since 2005, plastics and advanced materials companies have invested $1.01 billion and created more than 4,600 new jobs in Virginia. To learn more about Virginia’s plastics industry, click here.

Panel of plastics professionals during the Plastics News Executive Forum.

The Port of Virginia signed a lease to continue operation of Richmond Marine Terminal through 2056 allowing the port to implement a long-term strategy to reinvest in RMT.

In order to modernize the 120-acre barge terminal, a $4.2 million 350-ton crane was installed at RMT, which will speed up the loading and unloading of the container barge.

A new barge was added with 50 percent more capacity to carry containers in a single trip. Rail upgrades, regular dredging, new cargo-moving equipment and other improvements are also scheduled to occur.

RMT is strategically located along the James River and I-95, and connects Richmond and the state to global trade through The Port of Virginia’s container terminals in the Norfolk Harbor.

The Port of Virginia offers direct service to more than 45 counties worldwide. It’s the only U.S. East Coast port with congressional authorization for 55-foot depth channels, and has the ability to be the first and last port of call.

To learn more about Virginia’s port and infrastructure advantages, click here.

New crane at Richmond Marine Terminal during lease signing event in Richmond.

Northern Virginia has surpassed the Tri-State New Jersey / New York region as the largest data center market in the U.S., with nearly 20 percent of the market share in enterprise demand in 2015, according to a study published by JLL.

Although Virginia’s data center industry is largely concentrated in Northern Virginia, the sector supports communities across the Commonwealth. In 2014, the total statewide economic impact attributable to the data center industry was approximately 36,043 jobs, $2.7 billion in wages, $8.6 billion in economic output, and $298.9 million in state and local tax revenue.

According to the NVTC report, data centers are a critical part of the infrastructure that supports the modern economy, not only in the technology sector, but in advanced manufacturing, entertainment, finance, healthcare, information, retail, telecommunications, and almost every other sector of the economy as well.

The industry generates significant tax revenues. Data centers are very capital-intensive and that translates into a disproportionate amount of property tax revenue, by far the largest source of revenue for Virginia localities.

Click here to access NVTC’s full report and learn more about Virginia’s thriving data center industry.

The Virginia Jobs Investment Program celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Created in 1965 as part of the Industrial Training division of the Virginia Community College System, the program provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs or experiencing technological change.

VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for its citizens. It is estimated that VJIP has supported more than 2,500 projects, over 365,600 jobs and $29 billion in capital investment within its 50 years.

“For five decades, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program has continuously improved the professional delivery of services that positively impact our businesses’ most important resource—their labor pool. We are confident that VJIP, along with its higher education and workforce system partners, will continue to play an integral role in connecting growing businesses with Virginia’s talent for the next five decades to come,” said Governor McAuliffe.

VJIP was moved to the Virginia Department of Economic Development in 1985, and then to the Virginia Department of Business Assistance in 1998. In July 2014, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership became the administrator of the program, where it is now more closely aligned with Virginia’s economic development strategies and corporate outreach in an efficient way to partner with allies and serve companies more effectively.

Working closely with company personnel, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program offers consulting services at no charge, in addition to direct funding to offset eligible companies’ recruitment and training costs.

Assistance in any of the programs offered by VJIP is eligible to projects that create basic employment for the Commonwealth, as basic employment brings new income into the state, stimulates additional employment, and is the basis for further economic growth. These businesses or functions must directly or indirectly derive more than 50% of their revenues from out of state sources, as determined by VJIP.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s Welding program held its first completion ceremony on December 10.

The ceremony recognized the first 15 students to enroll in Welding@SVHEC, a short term, accredited training program that provides students with instruction in MIG, TIG, stick and pipe welding. This non-credit program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. Welding instruction takes place in the SVHEC’s new, state-of-the-art welding lab.

This program started in response to employer requests for more trained, certified workers. The SVHEC’s Workforce Services department worked with Virginia Technical Institute to bring this program to South Boston, Virginia.

Virginia has a nationally acclaimed education system which ensures businesses have a steady pipeline of skilled workers, and now adds another industry recognized program to Southern Virginia.

The Virginia Community College System provides occupational and technical training programs, many of which are designed specifically to meet the needs of surrounding employers. Welding@SVHEC is a great example of how Virginia works with both higher education and companies to provide students with industry specific skills. To learn more about Virginia’s 23 community colleges, located on 40 campuses around the state, click here.

Class of 2015 Welding@SVHEC completers and instructors in South Boston, Virginia.

Virginia has again received a top ranking in the Pollina Corporate Real Estate/AEDI Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2015. For the third straight year, the Commonwealth was ranked No. 4 overall and was the top state on the East Coast. Virginia was ranked in the top three from 2004-2012.

“Clearly a national leader in the 12 years of this study, no other state comes close to Virginia when it comes to being a consistent pro-business state. Virginia holds the distinction of being the only state to remain within the top five pro-business states for the entire history of this study,” said Brent A. Pollina, president of Park Ridge, Illinois-based Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. and author of the study.

Virginia received an overall grade of A as it has for the last five years. The Commonwealth was the No. 1 state in the Stage II section, which is based on metrics at the state economic development agency level, such as incentives and marketing/website/response to new and existing employers.

“Governor Terry McAuliffe and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership should be commended for their efforts to consistently remain competitive, as they have clearly worked to preserve the tools Virginia needs to remain one of the most pro-business state in the country,” continued Pollina.

The Pollina study is considered the “gold standard” for evaluating states on 32 factors controlled at the state government level, including taxes, human resources, education, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, regulatory environment, workers’ compensation laws and economic incentive programs.

Consistency of a state’s performance is an important consideration when companies are making long-term decisions about corporate site locations that require significant capital investment.

“The key to Virginia’s success is its ability to balance low taxes, a good labor force, and a strong economic development program. With a Stage I rank of #9 and a Stage II rank of #1, Virginia has one of the most well-rounded business climates in the nation.”

To learn why Virginia has the right resources that have allowed companies to prosper here for more than 400 years, click here.

Last week, VEDP joined Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and The Hague Security Delta for a cybersecurity event in Tysons Corner, Va.

The Hague Security Delta is based in the Netherlands and represents the largest security cluster of businesses, governments and academic institutions in Europe. It establishes partnerships with global security leaders to share knowledge, increase business activity and create a more secure world.

A delegation of almost 30 Dutch and Flemish companies attended the event in Tysons Corner to discuss security issues with leading Virginia technology companies and institutions.

The Hague Security Delta, Fairfax County EDA and VEDP closed the program by having representatives sign a Memorandum of Understanding to increase cooperation between the cybersecurity centers.

The parties pledged to bolster innovation-based collaboration by promoting trade with each country's industry clusters; encouraging mutual exchanges with business, government and academic leaders; fostering R&D cooperation through joint enterprises and research centers; exploring joint initiatives at the highest levels of government on security matters; and joining efforts to identify technology commercialization opportunities.

This event and agreement illustrates Virginia’s leadership in technology, once again. The Commonwealth is a key part of the nation’s Cyber Capital and a major hub in the cybersecurity industry. To learn more about Virginia’s cybersecurity assets, click here.

Ulrich Seldeslachts, CEO at LSEC; Ida Haisma, executive director of The Hague Security Delta; Martin Briley, president and CEO of VEDP; and Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of FCEDA; sign the MOU in Tysons Corner, Va. Photo courtesy of FCEDA.

VEDP Chief Operating Officer Dan Gundersen was awarded the International Economic Development Council’s 2015 Honorary Life Member Designation.

Gundersen was presented with the award this past Monday during the IEDC Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. He also served as moderator of the first session at the conference, “How to be a World Class Economic Developer,” where he led a panel with representatives from four continents who discussed innovative approaches and trends in economic development.

“The designation of Honorary Life Member is given by IEDC to an active or former member who is progressing the profession of economic development as a teacher, or, who has motivated others in several communities,” said JoAnn Crary, CEcD, Chair of the International Economic Development Council and President of Saginaw Future Inc. “Mr. Gundersen has been dedicated to our industry and has, indisputably, earned this distinction.”

VEDP created the COO position in the spring of 2014 to manage all day-to-day operations and develop competitive strategies for success. Gundersen was recruited to the job in Virginia due to his deep background as a senior economic development official in three other states: New York, where he reported directly to the governor, both as Commissioner of Economic Development and as Upstate Chairman for the Empire State Development Corporation; Pennsylvania, where he held the number two job as Executive Deputy Secretary; and Maryland, where he was Assistant Secretary for Business Development.

At the metropolitan level, he led economic and workforce development efforts for Baltimore County, Md., where he produced the county’s first economic development operations strategy, and before that worked in Philadelphia with business leaders and the mayor to form public/private partnerships in impoverished neighborhoods.

Throughout his career, Gundersen and his teams helped structure deals resulting in the creation and retention of more than 150,000 jobs. These projects include world, North American and regional headquarters facilities.

“As economic developers, our job is to help produce economic growth so that businesses succeed,” said Gundersen. “How we do that is complex. Why we do it, is what really matters. For me, economic development is about making a positive difference in people’s lives and communities. It’s that simple and powerful.”

To learn more about Gundersen’s work at VEDP, promoting Virginia as the location with the right combination of resources that have helped businesses succeed for more than 400 years, click here.

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About VEDP

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), a state authority created by the Virginia General Assembly to better serve those seeking a prime business location and increased trade opportunities, provides confidential site selection and international trade services. VEDP's mission: To enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development, thereby expanding the tax base and creating higher-income employment opportunities.